Verkhovna Rada passes bill criminalising the selling of humanitarian aid and filming of the Armed Forces

KATERINA TISHCHENKO - THURSDAY, 24 MARCH 2022, 16:25

The Verkhovna Rada [Ukrainian Parliament] has passed a bill according to which photography and video of the movement of the Armed Forces and international military assistance during martial law is made illegal.

Source: Olena Shuliak, chairman of the Sluha Narodu party (Servant of the People party); Yaroslav Zhelezniak, member of parliament for the Holos party (Voice or Vote party); Verkhovna Rada website

Details: The draft law supplements the Criminal Code of Ukraine with a new article, Article 114-2.

According to Article 114-2: "Unauthorised dissemination of information on the direction, movement of international military assistance to Ukraine, movement, displacement or deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or other military formations of Ukraine, conducted under martial law or emergency."

Thus, for dissemination of information about the direction, transfer of international military assistance to Ukraine, if such information was not made public by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, or without obtaining written permission of the General Staff for its dissemination, there is an imprisonment for a term of three to five years.
For disseminating information about the movement, displacement or location of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or other military formations of Ukraine, if such information was not made public by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, or without written permission of the General Staff to disseminate it – imprisonment for five to eight years.

For these actions, committed with the prior conspiracy of a group of persons, or for selfish motives, or to provide such information to a state carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine or illegal armed groups, or if they have caused serious consequences – imprisonment for a term of eight to twelve years.

In addition, the Verkhovna Rada passed Bill No7146 – on criminal offence for the misuse of humanitarian aid during martial law for other purposes.

The bill complements Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code: "Utilisation of humanitarian aid, charitable donations or gratuitous aid during martial law for other purposes, namely for profit or personal gain."

Such use is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to seven years with or without confiscation of property.

The same acts committed by a person who has previously committed a crime under this article, or by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, or by an official using power or official position, or on a large scale – imprisonment for a term of seven to ten years with the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years and with confiscation of property.

Such acts, committed by an organised group or on a particularly large scale, are punishable by imprisonment for a term of ten to twelve years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years and confiscation of property.